Abstract: An apparatus for the optical recognition of documents (1) extends over the entire width of a transfer plane (3). Regularly disposed photoelectric elements (4), whose optical axes Create a single sensor plane (5) that is perpendicular to transfer plane (3), receive light (7) as altered by document (1). Photoelectric elements (4) are regularly disposed in a manner in which their optical axes are contained in a sensor plane (5) perpendicular to transfer plane (3). A region (8) of document (1), determined by sensor plane (5), is illuminated by at least one light line (9 or 10) which is inclined with respect to sensor plane 5. The light modified by document (1) is received by photoelectric elements (4). The adjacent light sources in each light line (9,10) are separated by a uniform source distance (A), which is smaller than the sensor distance (B) between two adjacent photoelectric elements (4). The light sources emit light within a narrow spectral width in pulses of short duration.

Abstract: An apparatus for the optical recognition of documents (1) extends over the entire width of a transfer plane (3). Regularly disposed photoelectric elements (4), whose optical axes create a single sensor plane (5) that is perpendicular to transfer plane (3), receive light (7) as altered by document (1). Photoelectric elements (4) are regularly disposed in a manner in which their optical axes are contained in a sensor plane (5) perpendicular to transfer plane (3). A region (8) of document (1), determined by sensor plane (5), is illuminated by at least one light line (9 or 10) which is inclined with respect to sensor plane (5). The light modified by document (1) is received by photoelectric elements (4). The adjacent light sources in each light line (9,10) are separated by a uniform source distance (A), which is smaller than the sensor distance (B) between two adjacent photoelectric elements (4). The light sources emit light within a narrow spectral width in pulses of short duration.